Press Release

SHANGHAI, CHINA (August 8th, 2018) — Amgen China today announced that its cholesterol-lowering agent Repatha^® (evolocumab) Injection has been approved by the National Drug Administration of China 世界杯直播频道 世界杯直播频道 (CNDA, former CFDA). 世界杯直播频道 Repatha is the first PCSK9 inhibitor in China for the treatment of adults and adolescents over 12 years old with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 世界杯直播频道 (PCSK9) is a protein that reduces the liver's ability to remove low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from the blood by binding to the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR). By inhibiting the binding of PCSK9 to LDLR, Repatha 世界杯直播频道 increases the number of LDLRs available to clear the LDL from the blood, thereby lowering LDL-C levels.

Repatha can be used as an adjunct to diet and other LDL-lowering therapies (e.g., statins, ezetimibe, and LDL apheresis) to further lower the LDL-C level. High LDL-C level is determined as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).^1,2

HoFH, an autosomal dominant genetic disease, is a rare disorder. The clinical manifestations of HoFH is markedly elevated LDL-C level since births, and subsequently an increased risk of developing overt atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). If left untreated or poorly treated, most patients may suffer from angina or myocardial infarction during childhood or adolescence, which leads to premature death, before the 世界杯直播频道 age of 20 to 30.³ Other signs and symptoms of the disease may include extensive xanthomas and arcus 世界杯直播频道 corneae.

"It is estimated that one 世界杯直播频道 in 160,000 – 1,000,000 people is affected by HoFH⁴,” said Dr. Ge Junbo, chairman of Chinese Society of Cardiology, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital. “As HoFH patients’ LDL-C level is several times higher than normal, and existing therapies have limitations, most patients fail to effectively control their LDL-C levels and are at continued risk of cardiovascular incidents. Evolocumab can significantly lower LDL-C levels by inhibiting PCSK9. Its timely approval in China not only brings new hope for HoFH patients, 世界杯直播频道 but also improves 世界杯直播频道 世界杯直播频道 their quality of life."

According to the clinical data, Repatha significantly reduces LDL-C levels in HoFH patients who have not been able to lower their LDL-C through diet and other cholesterol-lowering medications. Compared with placebo (12-week treatment), Repatha reduced HoFH patients’ LDL-C levels by up to 31%.⁵ Its 世界杯直播频道 robust efficacy and favorable safety have been verified during a one-year study conducted for the long-term treatment 世界杯直播频道 of HoFH patients.⁶

“The approval of Repatha in China has the potential to truly improve the lives of patients living with this rare disease,” said Penny Wan, Head and General Manager of Amgen’s Japan and Asia Pacific Region. “With Amgen’s full commitment to serving patients and combating severe and chronic diseases, we look forward to bringing more innovative therapies to Chinese patients and contributing to 世界杯直播频道 the Healthy China Initiative.”

Repatha has been approved by the European Commission (EC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 世界杯直播频道 (FDA), and is now available in more than 60 countries and regions, including countries in the European Union, United 世界杯直播频道 States, Australia and Japan.

About Repatha^® (evolocumab)

Repatha^® (evolocumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Repatha binds to PCSK9 and inhibits circulating PCSK9 from binding to the low-density 世界杯直播频道 世界杯直播频道 lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR), preventing PCSK9-mediated LDLR degradation and permitting LDLR to recycle back to the liver cell surface. By inhibiting the binding of PCSK9 to LDLR, Repatha increases the 世界杯直播频道 世界杯直播频道 世界杯直播频道 number of LDLRs available to clear LDL from the blood, thereby lowering LDL-C levels.⁷

Repatha is approved in more than 60 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Canada, and in all 28 countries that are members of the European Union. Applications in other countries are pending.

About Amgen

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins 世界杯直播频道 世界杯直播频道 by using tools like advanced human genetics 世界杯直播频道 to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen 世界杯直播频道 世界杯直播频道 has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

Amgen established an affiliate in China in 2012, and has since opened its China Headquarters and Asia Research & Development Center in Shanghai. Amgen also has an office in Beijing, which is responsible for drug registration and clinical trials, with the aim to deliver its medicines to patients in China. For more information, visit 165rc.com.

1. American Heart Association (2014). Why Cholesterol Matters.http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/WhyCholesterolMatters/Why-Cholesterol-Matters_UCM_001212_Article.jsp. Accessed July 2015.
2. World Health Organization. Global 世界杯直播频道 Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases 2014. Geneva, 2014.
3. 家族性高胆固醇血症筛查与诊治中国专家共识(Consensus of Chinese experts on the screening, diagnosis and treatment of Familial 世界杯直播频道 Hypercholesterolemia) [J].临床医学研究与实践(Clinical Research and Practice),2018,3(09):201.
4. Cuchel M, Bruckert E, Ginsberg HN, et al. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: new insights and guidance for clinicians to improve detection and clinical management.A position paper from the Consensus Panel on Familial Hypercholesterolaemia of the European Atherosclerosis Society. Eur Heart J. 2014 Aug 21;35(32):2146-57
5. Raal FJ, Honarpour N, Blom DJ, et al. Inhibition of PCSK9 with evolocumab in homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (TESLA Part B): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet.2015;385:341-50. 世界杯直播频道
6. Blom DJ, Hala T, Bolognese M. A 世界杯直播频道 52-week placebo-controlled trial of evolocumab in hyperlipidemia. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:1809-1819.
7. Repatha Prescribing Information; Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2017.